Page 78 of Final Ride

“Hey, Harlan. We’re coming over soon to help y’all with the house.”

“Mom…I think the Breed took Travis.”

“What?”

“We went to McDonald’s in Giddings for food and coffee and Travis ain’t here. We were only gone a half hour tops.”

“I’ll get some help for us and come over. Stay there and don’t leave without me.”

“Thanks, Mom.”

“What did Mom say?” asked Virge.

“She’s rounding up a whack of help and coming right over. Run upstairs and get our guns and holsters and bring extra ammo.”

Virge took off and Corb came back from the barn out of breath. The dogs were with him, jumping and whining and doing the thing they always did when they couldn’t find Travis.

“Nobody in the barn,” said Corb. “Just the dogs.”

“Why didn’t the dogs attack the bikers?” I asked Virge.

“Bikers must have been ready for the dogs and tranq’ed ‘em,” said Virge. “I’m bloody thankful they didn’t shoot them. If they came to kill Dad, I don’t know why they wouldn’t kill the dogs too.”

“I don’t like what you’re saying, Virge.”

“Can’t help it. Facts are facts, bro.”

“I need a gun,” said Corb, “and I don’t have one.”

“You won’t need one, Corb. We’ll protect you.”

“I want my own.”

“Dad won’t let you have your own until he teaches you to shoot first. You’ve got to learn safety.”

“I watched you out on the highway, Virge. I’m pretty sure I can do it without shooting myself in the fuckin’ foot.”

Twenty minutes later, Mick and Annie arrived with all the kids. Annie hopped out of her truck, and she was pointing southeast. “I sent the squad to Houston and that’s where we’re going too. Mick will stay here with the kids and watch over them. Lucy will do the grocery shopping while we’re gone.”

Mom was talking fast, and I nodded as I listened to her plan. Dad said that Mom was a born leader, and I was seeing that coming from her now. True dat.

“Let’s go. You boys have your guns?”

“We’re ready, Mom.”

“Pile in my truck,” said Annie. “I’ll drive.”

Maynooth. Northern Ontario.

Bobby let Cleo out the front door for her morning run and saw Tammy climbing out of the cab of the red Freightliner.

“Hey, there you are, Tammy. Me and Cleo went looking for you way back in the bear cave.”

“I got away from the bear and ran like hell. She’s pretty fast down on all fours and I almost didn’t make it to the truck.”

Bobby stared at all the damage he’d done to a once beautiful face and felt a couple of pangs of remorse.

“I’m sorry I beat you so bad, Tammy. You just did so much stuff to me, I guess I wanted a little payback.”

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